Great Lake levels are up?

[Sea Ray 215]

DETROIT (WWJ) – The milder than usual winter has many thinking that we’ll pay the price in the spring and summer with lower lake levels, then again maybe not.
But WWJ’s Mike Campbell reports that lake levels have actually risen in the last year, even after a nearly snow-less Michigan winter.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), all of the Great Lakes are higher than they were last year in March, and Lake St. Clair is 4 inches higher.
The Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit says in the next 30 days to expect Lake St. Clair to rise another 3 inches; while lakes Huron and Michigan will increase 4 inches; Lakes Erie and Ontario will add 1 inch each, and Lake Superior will rise an additional 2 inches – compared to 1985 levels.
Lake St. Clair is up 23 inches, lakes Michigan and Huron are even; Lake Erie is up 35 inches; Lake Ontario is plus 32; and Lake Superior is down 11 inches.
The Corps notes that it doesn’t make predictions as to the peak summer months for lake levels.

Finally some good news.....at least for now!!!

 

[Pyrojodge]

Yes, last year for Lake Erie any way the water levels stayed high. It was strange being able to step off of the dock right into the boat. Normally there is a step down or up. Hope the levels hold true this year...

 

[Lucky's]

I was one that assumed the levels would be down due to no snow. Obviously in Michigan, we are hammered by lake effect snow, where cold air comes over the warmer water and dumps snow on land. Do you suppose that, although precip was down, the fact that we didn't have all the lake effect pulling the moisture off the lake is why levels are up?? If not, I wonder what they attribute it to...

 

[chandalen]

Its reported here (upstate NY) that the St Lawrence Seaway will be up 4" this year, as well as the levels not dropping as rapidly as they did the past 2 years. yea!

 

[Molson]

Odd. Its still down in Georgian Bay. But generally comes up in May/June (opening of the Trent?) Up 4 inches would be nice. Up 4 feet to where it was in the 80's would be better. I have sand bars and shallows that I remember playing at as a kid that now have trees growing on them.

 

[alwhite00]

Great news, I was scared. Hopefully we get the 4" you spoke of.

LK

 

[dcharna]

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/great...recasts/weeklygreatlakeswaterlevels/index.cfm

I have subscribed to this for many years. They send me an e-mail each week that reports the water level with history.

enjoy

Dan

 

[Lake Erie Boater]

I get an email every week with a link to the "local notice to mariners" It contains a lake levels forecast for the great lakes updated weekly.

Just read this weeks report and they are forecasting Lake Erie at +35". From my recollection, Lake Erie was at +33" at the end of the season last fall. Last spring, Erie was around +43 or +44", so we haven't recovered to those levels, yet.....

 

[Creekwood]

The latest forecast is here:

http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=3887&destination=ShowItem

 

[Getaway]

Man, I hope this is all true. My first trip into the Saginaw Bay a couple weeks ago scared the poopy out of me.